Missouri voters approve higher min. wage, reject tobacco tax hike

By AP/KWMU

St. Louis, MO – Missourians on Tuesday vote to give those earning minimum wage a raise by overwhelmingly passing Proposition B.

It garnered 76% of the vote and was among the first of the statewide races and questions to be called.

With the approval, Missouri's minimum wage will increase from the current federal base of $5.15 an hour to $6.50, as of Jan. 1. There also will be an automatic increase each year to keep pace with inflation.

TOBACCO TAX

While Missourians were more than willing to raise the minimum wage, they were against the idea of raising taxes on tobacco.

In all, about 52% of voters rejected Amendment 3.

The tax would have jumped from the current $0.17 to $0.97 a pack while raising taxes on other tobacco products to 30% of the manufacturer's invoice price instead of the present 10%.

The measure was to bring in at least $351 million annually, which would go toward health care and anti-tobacco programs.